Benton, Franklin counties to collaborate on behavioral health changes

Benton and Franklin county commissioners agreed Thursday to hire a consultant to develop a plan for offering behavioral health services under Washington’s new privatization model.

The elected leaders of both counties met twice this week to talk about pending state-level changes that will alter the way mental health services are delivered in Washington.

The two counties provide mental health services, namely crisis response, through the bicounty human services division.

Starting in 2020, behavioral health services will fall to private managed care organizations, potentially putting the network of existing service providers out of work.

Five of six county commissioners who form the Benton-Franklin Health District Board gathered for a routine meeting Wednesday in Kennewick. A day later, all six participated in a special bicounty gathering at the Benton County Justice Center to map out a plan to ensure the behavioral health system is ready for the changes.

The outcome was straightforward.

The two commissions voted separately but unanimously to authorize their combined human services operation to hire a consultant to develop a plan for 2020. The consultant will work with existing providers to knit together a behavioral health system the private managed care organizations will want to hire.

“We’re evolving toward a better system,” said Shon Small, chair of the Benton County Commission.

Benton-Franklin Human Services is one of six county-level agencies in Washington still providing direct mental health services for people in crisis. Most counties have shifted to a private model. Walla Walla converted in 2015. Leaders in both counties have said privatization could improve services, save money and reduce county liability.

Ken Roughton, director of the regional support network Greater Columbia Behavioral Health, urged the county leaders to view 2020 as an opportunity to build a better system, not to step out of the business.

The counties should build on local expertise to ensure local expertise and control remain, Roughton said.

“After 2020, that could be removed from our hands,” he said.

Thursday’s gathering was the first bicounty commissioners meeting since last summer, though Benton and Franklin have several joint operations, including human services and the combined superior court.

Franklin County suspended joint in-person meetings, citing state rules against conducting its business in another jurisdiction.

Relations deteriorated over questions about shared costs and lack of communication.

In June, Benton gave Franklin written notice it was terminating its joint office of public defense because of rising workloads. It received no response and the interlocal agreement expired at the end of 2015. The partnership permanently dissolved when the two sides failed to negotiate a new agreement and Franklin County formed its own public defense office.

The discord continued in February when Benton County Commissioner Jerome Delvin disclosed he’d asked a state senator to introduce legislation to split the judicial district, saying Benton subsidizes Franklin’s share of the administrative cost. Sen. Mike Hewitt, R.-Walla Walla, agreed, but only if four of the six commissioners agreed.

With all three Franklin commissioners in opposition, the matter largely dropped. Benton quantified the subsidy at $662,000, leading Franklin County commissioners to say publicly the county will pay its share, but wants an outside auditor to verify the figures.

Earlier this month, Benton County commissioners complained in a public session that emails to Franklin County were landing in spam filters and they had little choice but to communicate by registered mail.

That acrimony was missing Thursday.

“I appreciate the chance to get together,” said Franklin County Commissioner Bob Koch.

“Welcome back,” said Benton County Commissioner Jim Beaver.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 9:07 PM with the headline "Benton, Franklin counties to collaborate on behavioral health changes."